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4 *•* » " " « <^ 



ADDRESS 

OF THE 

Rhode Island 
Society ok Cincinnati 

TO 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

AND 

His Answer 
1797- 



Brooklyn, JV. T. 
Privately Printed 

1885. 



E3IZ 



■ ^i 



'5L>Sr 




The Rhode Island State Society of 
Cincinnati to Georoe Washinoton, 

o o 

President oj the United States — 
Sir 

In looking forward to the period 
which is intended to terminate the 
career of your pubHc Hfe, our feehngs 
will not permit us to suspend the 
deep acknowledgements of that debt 
of gratitude which is your due from 
a Country to whose Independence 
and Happiness you have so essen - 
tially contributed. The interesting 
scene of your intended retirement 



/^- 3 



W] 



IN EXCHr.NGE 

New York Public Library 

JUN 27 1012' 



3 
revives in the minds of our fellow 
Citizens in general the many proofs 
of eminent wisdcm and unshaken 
patriotism displayed in the fickl, the 
glory ol which can be eclipsed only 
by the innumerable evidence of your 
firm, enlightened, and uniform attach- 
ment to republican and constitutional 
principles displayed in \(nir political 
transactions. 

While testimonies of respectful af- 
fection and grateful attachment are 
arising to you from every part of the 
union, a similar attention from a So- 
ciety of Citizens who have "laid 
down in peace Arms assumed for the 
public defence," cannot be unaccept - 
able on this occasion. 

By this address we do not think of 
adding anything to the lustre of a 



4 
Character composed of an assemblage 
of the most eminent pubhc and pri - 
vate virtues, a Character who like 
bodies highly polished, may attract, 
but as readily eludes the envenomed 
shafts of envy ; and which the vir - 
tuous can only admire. 

We do but attempt to express the 
honest feelings of every member of 
the Sociey, in whose behalf we ad - 
dress you, when we say that we ex - 
tremely regret the occasion of a 
retirement dictated by reasons which 
must silence every objection to the 
measure. — In that retirement may 
you meet all that tranquility and 
happiness you so ardently desire, 
and enjoy all the blessings of private 
and domestic life ; There may you 
still live to receive the rich harvest of 



5 
your labours and services in the 
peace and prosperity of your Coun - 
try, in the fervent affection of your 
fellow Citizens, the applause of an 
Admiring World and the higher 
Pleasures of an approving conscience. 
May your lengtheningd ays still ex - 
tend your usefulness and your set - 
ting Sun shine with undiminished 
lustre till a reward more than Man 
can give shall be yours. 

Impressed with these sentiments, 
and actuated by the pleasing sensi - 
bility of personal aftection and grat - 
itude, Respected Sir, we bid you 
Adieu 

Enos Hitchcock 

Jere'h Olney 

Jno. Dexter 

William Allen 



6 
Ephraim Bowen, Jun. 
Thomas Smart 
Dan. L. Dexter 
Sam'l Snow 
Providence, Febr. 25th. 1797. 

To tlic Members of the Rhode 
Islanel State Society of the Cin - 
cinnati — 
Gentlemen 

For your affectionate Address 
on my retiring from public life I beg 
you to accept my grateful acknow- 
ledgements, and be assured that no 
circumstance can tend more to 
sweeten the few remaining years of 
my life, then the pleasing remem - 
brance of my services having been 
appoved by those who have partici- 



pated in the arduous struggle to 
establish our Independence, or to 
regulate the important Era of our 
Civil affairs. 

In bidding you Adieu, I pray that 
the best of Heav^ens blessings may 
rest upon you 

Go. Washington. 
Philadelphia. 6th. Mar. 1797. 




(Kljtbir ^nss. 
100 Cojiies Printed 
No. 11 



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